Australia’s best crowned in two global awards

Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island has been voted the best hotel in Australia in the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine Top 100 Hotels List 2019.

The list, formulated from reader surveys conducted by the international publication, is among the industry’s most high-profile gauges of quality accommodation worldwide.

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”15046″ align=”left”]The South Australian property, which also took the title last year, is also the only Australian hotel to rank on this year’s world-renowned list, sitting at number 21 with a score of 97.43 out of a possible 100.

Chair and CEO of owners Baillie Lodges, James Baillie, said it was a “great honour” to have Southern Ocean Lodge rated among the world’s best properties.

“We’re very proud to be the best – and only – Australian hotel in the World’s Top 100 Hotels List, and to be placed again as the best Australian hotel in the Top 5 Australian New Zealand resorts category,” Mr Baillie said.

“We value this recognition particularly as it’s a reader-driven list, so it’s a real testimony to the property’s timeless design, exceptional service, locally-sourced food and wine and wildly beautiful location, which all contribute to its enduring appeal for visitors from Australia and overseas.

“We’re very grateful to the outstanding team at Southern Ocean Lodge who are to be congratulated for this world-class accolade.”

Southern Ocean Lodge has been one of Australia’s standout accom properties since it opened in 2008. It is the seventh year running that the hotel has made the list.

Further north, Cairns’ Reef House Hotel and Spa, Palm Cove has been awarded the best Luxury Historical Hotel Spa and best Luxury Romantic Destination Spa, Australia/Oceania in the 2019 World Luxury Spa Awards.

The tropical north Queensland property claims to offer “a fresh sense of luxury contrasted with historic charm”.

It is the only day spa in Queensland to offer Phytomer treatments based on marine bio-technology and is home to the organic Australian-made product range Waterlily.

The awards are voted for by some 250,000 guests, travellers and industry players over a four-week judging period to select the winners.  

Reef House Spa offers five treatment rooms, two Vichy showers and a couple’s treatment room with spa bath, providing holistic massages, facials, body exfoliation, seaweed wraps and anti-ageing treatments.

“With a small dedicated team of experienced therapists, Day Spa understands the need for a personalised and nurtured spa experience for guests,” said a spokesperson.